Thulamela is an ancient and sacred walled kingdom in Kruger National Park that unlocks some of the fascinating history of southern Africa
Category Archives: South Africa
MAKULEKE
Between two rivers and three countries, Makuleke Contractual Park in northern Kruger is a spectacular biodiversity and historical hotspot
A different safari – photographic hides
Fantastic images from a day in the photographic hides of Indlovu River Lodge in Karongwe Private Game Reserve near the town of Hoedspruit
“Living dead” – elephants in Kruger NP are sterilizing palm trees, says research
Elephants feeding on fan palm trees are preventing the palms from reaching full size & reproductive potential in Kruger NP, says new study
COVID-19 safari during lockdown: we test-drive
What will a Covid-19 safari be like under South Africa’s lockdown rules? We test-drive a lockdown safari in Timbavati, Greater Kruger
Meet the lion coalitions & prides of the Greater Kruger
Meet the famous Mapogos and other celebrity lion coalitions of the Greater Kruger – the warriors, the courageous and the notorious.
Baboon kidnaps lion cub
A baboon kidnapped a tiny lion cub in the Kruger National Park, and was seen grooming the dying cub in a large tree
Greater Kruger
The ‘Greater Kruger’ refers to 344,000 hectares (860,000 acres) of protected land to the west of Kruger National Park that provides a larger area for wildlife to roam freely. This additional land is owned by private and local community property owners.
Experience an art safari in the Big 5 Greater Kruger
Join professional artist Alison Nicholls on a special Big 5 art safari in the Greater Kruger.
Klaserie Capers
He emerged silently from the gloom and ambled towards us with that gentle rocking gait that big bull elephants use to cover vast distances with minimal effort. His white tusks glowed in the moonshine, but otherwise, he was just a huge dark grey smudge that loomed larger by the second. The eight of us sat […]
Walking Safari in the Greater Kruger
This walking safari got off to a rollicking start. The previous day I met up with my UK-based Africa Geographic colleague and long-time friend Christian Boix, two safari first-timers and our trail guides Hanri and AD and spent our first night in the mobile camp deep in the Greater Kruger. The husband and wife first-timers […]
Watch: African wildcat kitten in my garden
Cuteness alert! Our CEO finds a tiny African wildcat kitten in his garden near the Greater Kruger, notices signs of possible inbreeding with domestic cats.
Video: Bucket the tiny lion cub is still going strong!
Good news: The tiny lion cub named Bucket that left her mother at the tender age of five weeks to follow the pride males, and endured 10 days with no mother’s milk before rejoining her mom, is alive and well.
Travel: May safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in May? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Travel: April safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in April? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
There’s a bat in my bedroom!
A nature conservation student shares her first impressions after a few weeks at the Karoo Lodge Conservancy, located in the Karoo in South Africa.
Graphic content: Lion attacks injured hyena
A dramatic sighting as a lion brutally attacks an already injured spotted hyena in the Kgalagadi.
Samara – Rewilding the Great Karoo
It was late in the evening when we sat down for a beautifully prepared three-course dinner at the impeccably decorated Manor House in Samara – a private game reserve located near Graaff-Reinet in the Great Karoo. The main topic making the rounds was about the much-anticipated lion release, which took place earlier in the day. […]
Photos: Fantastic sightings from the Greater Kruger
A stunning selection of photos of the latest sightings from Tanda Tula in the Greater Kruger.
Video: Elephants go mad for marulas in our garden
“Elephants love marula fruit. I have seen them rush to a tree with a lot of fallen fruit the same way they would hurry to a waterhole when they are thirsty. We happen to have two marula trees in our garden that drop a lot of fruit.. too much for an elephant to resist!”
Travel: March safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in March? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Photoseries: Leopard family makes a splash
Magic happens while on safari when a leopard mother leads her two cubs across two flowing channels of the Sand River to the other side.
Travel: February safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in February? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Nose-to-nose with one big cat!
A photographer and her husband receive a surprise up-close encounter with a young male lion in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Penguins: What’s being done and how you can help
Cape Town is synonymous with many things, like Table Mountain, picturesque landscapes, beautiful beaches, and of course our iconic African penguin.
Travel: January safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in January? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Big news as Kruger National Park 10-year management plan approved by Minister
South Africa’s Acting Minister of Environmental Affairs Derek Hanekom has officially approved the ground-breaking and visionary 10-year Kruger National Park Management Plan.
New citrus farm on Kruger border – have your say
A citrus farming enterprise has purchased a small but ecologically pivotal farm on the border of the Klaserie and Timbavati private nature reserves (Greater Kruger) near the town of Hoedspruit, and plans to develop a citrus orchard in this vital game reserve area.
Update: The wandering N4 highway Kruger lion
Remember the lion that was found wandering on the N4 highway this past September? Here’s an update on his latest whereabouts.
Kruger Glamping
Glamorous camping (glamping) should be an authentic way of enjoying what safari used to be all about. But not too authentic, right? I mean you don’t want to have to catch your dinner or dig a pit latrine. Sure, do away with the permanent lodge structures, but I still want to feel safe and comfortable. […]
Bush tales: The story of the painted wolves of Balule
‘Painted wolves’, ‘Cape hunting dogs’ or ‘wild dogs’. No matter what you call them, one thing is certain: they are one of the most enigmatic and charismatic animals on the African continent.
Global petroleum company brings fracking threat to Drakensberg
An international petroleum exploration company has fired up a fresh application to explore for products in prime farmland in the central Drakensberg and Free State.
Travel: December safari in Africa
A December safari in Africa means long hot days, the odd thunderstorm, and dense green vegetation – and young animals and birds everywhere!
What a catch! Leopard catches water monitor
A leopard takes a dive and goes fishing for lunch in Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa.
Incredible encounter: Mongoose versus snake
A yellow mongoose and a mole snake provide a great sighting as they face off in the Kgalagadi.
Cape foxes defend kits from honey badger
An incredible sighting as a Cape fox family deals with an unwanted guest in the form of a honey badger looking for a meal.
The prettiest pigeons in Africa
With their bright green plumage, the African green pigeon is undoubtedly the peacock of the pigeon species.
Adorably naughty leopard cubs
A leopard mother has her paws full as her two adorably naughty cubs prefer to explore the bush rather than hide away in their den.
Magnificent and mesmerising Madikwe!
Explore the Big 5, malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa while on a photographic safari with professional photographer, Matrishva Vyas.
Winter wildlife highlights in the Karoo
During the long winter months in the Karoo, it is always a thrill to see nocturnal animals out and about in the daylight hours foraging.
Kruger’s roaming lions
“Never a dull moment in the bush” is something my husband and I tell each other all the time. Well, that is certainly true for the events of a few weekends ago when a male lion got out of our stunning Kruger National Park!
Kruger 10-year management plan
SANParks has released its Kruger National Park management plan covering the next 10 years. This 259-page report is essential reading for Kruger fans who enjoy debating the issues that the Kruger management team has to deal with on a regular basis, such as problem-animal management, hotels in Kruger and trophy hunting of free-roaming wildlife on reserves adjoining Kruger.
Following in the footsteps of giants, a unique Kruger experience
Discovering stunning spots in the Kruger National Park where no tourist has ever been, becoming part of the food chain for a week by sharing the living space of elephants, hippos, buffaloes and lions, testing your feet, legs and stamina with a 100+ kilometre walking expedition; the newly developed north-to-south Kruger Trail is the stuff that the dreams of adventurous nature lovers are made of.
Tracking with the Ju/’Hoansi Master Trackers in Kruger
The last three Master Trackers of the Ju/’hoanis from Nyae Nyae in Namibia were invited to the Kruger in South Africa to participate in some pioneering trails. They came to display their extraordinary tracking prowess to guests participating in walking trails. This is an account of their journey.
The signs of spring in South Africa
Spring in South Africa is a colourful, noisy and fragrant affair.
Video: There is an elephant in the driveway!
An elephant tucks into some juicy vegetation in a residential garden in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Skye the lion hunting furore: Parliament wants Kruger NP agreement with private reserves revised
Environmental Affairs committee believes agreement between Kruger National Park and private reserves should be revised.
Cunning honey badger snatches eagle chick
A cunning honey badger takes a chance on a martial eagle’s nest in the Kgalagadi Transfontier Park in South Africa.
Travel: October safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in October? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Free access to national parks in South Africa during National Parks Week
From the 10th to 14th September, 2018, South African National Parks (SANParks) will be offering visitors free access to the majority of the national parks in South Africa.
Wild dog conservation success in KwaZulu-Natal
In an exciting and massive win for conservation, a successful denning in Manyoni Private Game Reserve results in three new wild dog puppies.
Videos: Dramatic sighting as lion pride takes down impala in camp
Late on a Sunday night, a pride of lions chased, took down and devoured an impala inside our camp – an incredible sighting to say the least!
Epic Kruger
This epic photo gallery from Africa Geographic of special moments in Kruger National Park will have you booking your next safari with AG
Travel: September safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in September? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Video: A tree climbing lesson for four lion cubs
A great sighting as a lioness and four cubs spend some time exploring a shepherd’s tree in the Waterberg, South Africa.
History and future of the Kruger
It was a few years before the South African (Boer) War, in the late 1800s when President Paul Kruger (in office 1883 – 1900) was alerted to the fact that a rapid extinction of various species of flora and fauna was taking place in South Africa. Unregulated hunting meant that wild animals were disappearing fast, […]
Video: The new lion cubs of the Zebenine pride
After weeks of waiting, the two lion cubs, a male and a female, from the Zebanine pride have finally made their first appearance.
Travel: August safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in August? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
Lions and hyenas: Eternal enemies
Chad Cocking and his team recently had a stunning sighting of lions restoring order and claiming their rank from the hyena clans, proving just how formidable they can be.
Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains declared World Heritage Site
The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains in Mpumalanga, South Africa, have been officially added to the World Heritage Site List, alongside three other sites in Mexico, China and France.
Video: Battle of the boars
A field guide in the Kruger National Park witnesses an epic battle between to warthog boars.
Video: Lions make a comeback
With wild lions under pressure from so many threats, this is a wonderful story of lions being reintroduced to an area that used to have lions.
Video: Chad and the black mamba
A game ranger received quite an unexpected surprise when he found a near three-metre black mamba underneath his bed.
Guarding Limpopo National Park’s carnivores
A new carnivore protection ranger force, the Limpopo Lion Protection Team, has been trained and deployed – specifically assigned to support the Greater Limpopo Carnivore Programme and tasked with securing known lion ranges from targeted lion poaching.
Travel: July safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in July? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
There’s a Leopard in my Garden
One of the most popular requests from safari tourists to their guides is to see leopards. This is a tough task, even for the most experienced of guides, due to the elusive and cunning nature of these big cats. But there is a town called Hoedspruit, near the Kruger National Park in the Limpopo Province […]
Video: Cheetah conservation in KwaZulu-Natal
As part of their ongoing conservation initiatives, a new female cheetah has been relocated to Manyoni Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.
Video: Black rhino bulls fight in the deep end
A visitor to Pilanesberg Game Reserve witnesses an epic battle between two territorial black rhino bulls who ended up deep in a waterhole.
Travel: June safari in Africa
Interested in going on an African safari in June? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.
The Karoo Ridge Conservancy: New beginnings
Set in the upper Karoo on the edge of the Great Escarpment, the Karoo Ridge Conservancy is a 5,000 hectare private conservancy founded to restore, protect and safeguard the diverse wildlife, landscape and natural resources of the region.
Our day watching Kruger’s wild dogs
A pack of wild dogs provide a whole day’s worth of entertainment for a photographer in the Kruger National Park.
Southern ground-hornbill feasts on hare
A southern ground-hornbill in the Kruger finds a rare treat in the form of a juvenile hare.
Video: Eland to the rescue for the endangered Cape Flats vegetation
The Gantouw Project aims to restore eland on the remaining natural areas on the Cape Flats in South Africa.
Wildlife wrestling: Ground squirrels
The ground squirrels at Mata-Mata Rest Camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa provided endless hours of amusement with their antics – from acrobatics, to wrestling to rugby moves!
Inquisitive leopard braves the heat to hunt birds
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park offers a great sighting of a leopard trying to hunt birds in the heat of the day.
Manyeleti: The Place of Stars
Manyeleti Game Reserve is a bit of an open secret amongst those in the know. But the secret details depend on who you speak to. Jaundiced, local Kruger National Park die-hards have either never heard of it, or write the reserve off as not worthy of their holiday time (most never having been there). Others […]
Art safari Q&A: What will I learn on my art safari?
Artist Alison Nicholls answers some frequently asked questions regarding the Africa Geographic Travel art safaris that she runs in the Kruger National Park and Madikwe in South Africa.
Make your safari count – limited space on this dream experience
Imagine being able to enjoy an African safari experience while contributing to conservation solutions for the continent at the same time.
Bush tales: Half-blind lioness and cubs update
One of the best parts about being a field guide is that you can follow the stories of animals, you can watch cubs grow up and witness the change in dynamics within herds. Yet, as always within nature, there are moments of pure joy but also of great tragedy.
Lion relocation success: Somkhanda lions reveal their cubs
Four cubs have been spotted recently, sticking closely to their mom, at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is a true success story around wild lion and their translocation to one of the only community-owned reserves in the country.
Klaserie through the Lens
Every year, the Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year competition showcases a plethora of phenomenal photos from around Africa by professional and amateur photographers, alike. The lucky winners are awarded incredible prizes that reflect their talent. Wildlife photographer Willem Kruger won first place in the ‘travel’ category in 2017 and enjoyed a memorable trip to the […]
Gory splendour: Lion cub and buffalo carcass
A greedy lion cub wants the buffalo carcass all to itself!
Patience is a virtue for cheetahs on the prowl
The patience of three cheetahs is incredible as they go on the prowl for three hours, stalking an impala herd in the hopes of making a kill.
Baboons: The least loved primate
When you take a road trip in South Africa you are bound to get to see a troop of baboons at some point. I am thrilled at every sighting, but realise that my reaction towards seeing baboons is out of the ordinary. For most people the baboons evoke very different feelings: to some they are the witches funny flying monkeys, while others harbour a more intense dislike for them, usually over a past picnic invasion.
Stompie, the inquisitive mouse
Fascinating interactions go down in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park involving a Cape cobra, mice, sociable weavers and fork-tailed drongos.
Cheeky: Black-backed jackal versus cheetah cub
A black-backed jackal gets a little too cheeky with a cheetah cub in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Tantalising Tswalu: The Kalahari’s diamond in the rough
It was like a scene out of the movie Jurassic Park. You know, that adrenaline-fuelled, chaotic scene when the bad guys arrive on the island in their vehicles and speed through the bush while dinosaurs scatter out of their way as they hunt for the ultimate dinosaur trophy. Well, this was like that, except I […]
Pangolin research in the Kalahari
Little is known about how pangolins might cope with the direct and indirect effects of a changing climate. A PhD researcher is therefore investigating the body temperature, diet, and activity patterns of free-living ground pangolins in a semi-arid environment in South Africa.
5 Reasons why meerkats are awesome
Meerkats may be small, but they’re pretty tough when it comes to living rough. Able to withstand harsh environments like the desert, meerkats have developed unique ways in which they are able to adapt and thrive in such arid conditions. To put it simply: they’re incredibly fascinating (and hardcore!) creatures.
Opportunistic: Hyena steals cheetah kill
An opportunistic brown hyena helps itself to a cheetah kill in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa.
Rediscovering Kruger
Living on the African continent, we have a vast array of protected areas to visit. Those of us with a travel-addiction and passion for wildlife endeavour to visit them all – the Okavango, Maasai Mara and Serengeti to mention just a few. However, we sometimes overlook what we have right on our doorstep, such as […]
Bush tales: Half-blind lioness takes down giraffe for cubs
A field guide shares his story of a lone, half-blind, lioness who took down a giraffe for her and her cubs to feast on in the Kruger.
Our quest for the elusive aardvark
Have you ever seen an aardvark? It’s a question I have asked African safari guides for decades. The response always seems the same: “they are here but you never see them.”
Unbelievable sighting: Eagle catches young impala
An incredible, almost unbelievable sighting as a Verreaux’s eagle catches a young impala and flies off with it in the Magaliesberg.
Special sighting: Playful lion pride
A brilliant photoseries of lion cubs and the rest of their pride play-fighting in Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa.
Ticking off the bucket list: Leopard cub
An incredible sighting of a leopard cub with its mother in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana – one for the bucket list!
Video: An elephant never forgets
While many people go on safaris with the hope of having some spectacular wildlife encounters, sightings can never be guaranteed and any encounter with the wilderness should be treated as a privilege in itself. However, if you’re lucky, nature may just treat you to something wonderful.
Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park: Protecting the “birthplace of rhino”
Over the past few months, Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal – managed by conservation agency Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – has been hard hit by a significant escalation in rhino poaching. Ezemvelo has subsequently been hard at work developing more effective anti-poaching and resource management strategies. In support of this, Peace Parks Foundation has committed an additional R10,6 million towards the implementation of advanced technology solutions in this sacred rhino protection area.
South Africa’s top tourist attractions
If there was a checklist for the perfect travel destination, South Africa would tick most of the boxes. Famed for its amazing wildlife and landscapes, superb local cuisine, warm hospitality and great weather, (plus the added bonus that its affordable) it’s easy to understand why tourism is so big in South Africa.
